"Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions."
Ezra 8:21
Ahava Baptist Church
Ahava Baptist Church is a small church in Turkey Creek, FL (Plant City area). The Pastor, Mike Holland has an amazing fascination for the Lord, and shows his enthusiasm with every sermon he presents to our small church! Ahava may be a small a church, but the people in my church have the biggest hearts, and welcome anyone to join us with wide-open arms! I know that Ahava Baptist Church is where I will always attend to hear the Lord's word, this is the house that built me, and I am so proud to be called a member of Ahava Baptist Church! :) For more information or to contact my Pastor, Mike Holland go to: ahavabaptist.com
A poem of Thanksgiving from my Pastor, Bro. Mike Holland...
Those simple things that give me bliss,
Things that make my life worth living,
I list them now with thanksgiving.
Babies laughing out with glee,
Playing “horsey” with my knee,
Desserts with chocolate so rich and sweet,
The sound of tires on red brick streets.
Brand new babies powdered smell,
Opening up my daily mail.
A meal, a bird, a smile, a look,
The leisure reading of a book,
Fresh popcorn with a tasty scorch,
Wishing the paper could reach my porch,
A new computer to speed up study,
The joy of kids who drive you nutty.
The comfort of a soft old shoe,
Bright summer days, and skies of blue,
A singing bird upon a limb,
The smell of grass when fresh and trim.
To drink a Pepsi with eager lip,
To loudly slurp instead of sip,
A child’s slobb’ry kiss upon the cheek,
The hymns we sing to start a week.
To be forgiven when I’ve wronged,
Sermons I know that are never long,
To sop thick gravy with warm bread,
Fresh, clean sheets upon the bed,
Okra cooked in white acre peas,
Shooting hoops with grace and ease,
A voice with “southern” in its sound,
Fellowship and dinner-on -the-grounds,
Flowers that make a fairyland,
And butterflies that shake their hand,
Mountain brooks that bubbling run,
O’er pebbles gleaming in the sun,
Nighttime snacks, my bedtime treat,
Milk and doughnuts oh, so sweet,
Cowboy friends, Hoppy, Gene and Roy,
Remind me of my inner boy.
Priceless friendships given free,
Restaurants that serve sweet tea,
A sunset’s view, a rose’s scent,
The common day-by-day events,
An autumn night, a crisp blue sky,
Steamy grits at a church fish fry.
In morning light right on cue,
Sparkling diamonds made from dew,
The gentle tapping of the rain,
Like skeleton fingers on my window pane.
A home surrounded by stately trees,
Which play a tune when strummed by breeze,
The beaches hot beneath the sun,
On whose sand I have to run,
Because it’s hot beneath my feet,
But brings me pleasure oh so sweet,
The smiles I’ve seen sent from the pew,
The times I’ve heard “I love you,”
The tears we’ve shed though not a few,
The prayers for me when I’ve been blue,
The tender pats upon the back,
The special gifts wrapped in a sack.
The sharing of the latest joke,
Taking time to friendly poke,
A little fun toward their pastor,
And make them smile forever after.
An IPOD full of lectures and sermons,
That keep my young and ever learning,
Finding the time to meet my need,
Of finishing a book I just received.
Turkeys baked fresh and plump,
Gravy on taters with no lumps,
Casseroles and turkey thighs,
Whipped cream atop pumpkin pies.
Sparkling stars like a chandelier,
Making the dark seem not so drear,
Glassy lakes of peerless blue,
Allowing us a simple view,
Like mirrors placed upon the ground,
That let us see up while looking down.
Ice cream hand-churned in a freezer,
Is loved by all and not just this geezer,
Funny how quick people seem to learn,
They want the result but not to churn.
Grandchildren now fourteen in all,
A number not large but truly small,
When looked at by the love they bring,
It makes that number a minor thing.
Number fifteen is now on the way,
Another baby to brighten my day,
To hear “Grandpa” echoed so many times,
Is a gift so rare which few get to find,
Precious souls sent by God my way,
To see Christ in all I do and say.
You need not seek your thanks afar,
Just give Him thanks right where you are.
-Mike Holland
Things that make my life worth living,
I list them now with thanksgiving.
Babies laughing out with glee,
Playing “horsey” with my knee,
Desserts with chocolate so rich and sweet,
The sound of tires on red brick streets.
Brand new babies powdered smell,
Opening up my daily mail.
A meal, a bird, a smile, a look,
The leisure reading of a book,
Fresh popcorn with a tasty scorch,
Wishing the paper could reach my porch,
A new computer to speed up study,
The joy of kids who drive you nutty.
The comfort of a soft old shoe,
Bright summer days, and skies of blue,
A singing bird upon a limb,
The smell of grass when fresh and trim.
To drink a Pepsi with eager lip,
To loudly slurp instead of sip,
A child’s slobb’ry kiss upon the cheek,
The hymns we sing to start a week.
To be forgiven when I’ve wronged,
Sermons I know that are never long,
To sop thick gravy with warm bread,
Fresh, clean sheets upon the bed,
Okra cooked in white acre peas,
Shooting hoops with grace and ease,
A voice with “southern” in its sound,
Fellowship and dinner-on -the-grounds,
Flowers that make a fairyland,
And butterflies that shake their hand,
Mountain brooks that bubbling run,
O’er pebbles gleaming in the sun,
Nighttime snacks, my bedtime treat,
Milk and doughnuts oh, so sweet,
Cowboy friends, Hoppy, Gene and Roy,
Remind me of my inner boy.
Priceless friendships given free,
Restaurants that serve sweet tea,
A sunset’s view, a rose’s scent,
The common day-by-day events,
An autumn night, a crisp blue sky,
Steamy grits at a church fish fry.
In morning light right on cue,
Sparkling diamonds made from dew,
The gentle tapping of the rain,
Like skeleton fingers on my window pane.
A home surrounded by stately trees,
Which play a tune when strummed by breeze,
The beaches hot beneath the sun,
On whose sand I have to run,
Because it’s hot beneath my feet,
But brings me pleasure oh so sweet,
The smiles I’ve seen sent from the pew,
The times I’ve heard “I love you,”
The tears we’ve shed though not a few,
The prayers for me when I’ve been blue,
The tender pats upon the back,
The special gifts wrapped in a sack.
The sharing of the latest joke,
Taking time to friendly poke,
A little fun toward their pastor,
And make them smile forever after.
An IPOD full of lectures and sermons,
That keep my young and ever learning,
Finding the time to meet my need,
Of finishing a book I just received.
Turkeys baked fresh and plump,
Gravy on taters with no lumps,
Casseroles and turkey thighs,
Whipped cream atop pumpkin pies.
Sparkling stars like a chandelier,
Making the dark seem not so drear,
Glassy lakes of peerless blue,
Allowing us a simple view,
Like mirrors placed upon the ground,
That let us see up while looking down.
Ice cream hand-churned in a freezer,
Is loved by all and not just this geezer,
Funny how quick people seem to learn,
They want the result but not to churn.
Grandchildren now fourteen in all,
A number not large but truly small,
When looked at by the love they bring,
It makes that number a minor thing.
Number fifteen is now on the way,
Another baby to brighten my day,
To hear “Grandpa” echoed so many times,
Is a gift so rare which few get to find,
Precious souls sent by God my way,
To see Christ in all I do and say.
You need not seek your thanks afar,
Just give Him thanks right where you are.
-Mike Holland
Ahava Baptist supports many Missionaries
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Bobby & Charlene Wacaser
Baptist Faith Missions
Manoel Valdomiro de Macedo, 2281
81170-150 Curitiba, PR, Brazil
Phone: (813) 436-9980
Email: [email protected]
Mission Sheets (dated January 2011):
Announcing the New Baptist Church of Curitiba. The initial team is made up of three couples, one single young man and our thirteen year old son, Brennan. Last month, Charlene and our ladies prepared small gift-wrapped packages of homemade cookies and distributed them door-to-door announcing the beginning of the new church. We guys went to a sports complex and engaged the local 'fellers' in games of soccer and croquet. Since croquet is virtually unknown here, it served to draw a small crowd in a hurry. We interrupted our play long enough to announce the new church. We are content with our church meeting beneath a couple of beach gazebos for now. We want our team and new converts to think in terms of larger facilities for more people to come hear the Gospel, become followers of Christ and part of His church. Brother Carlos Chaves from Manaus and Bobby have been looking for the best prices on building materials and have decided that a metal building is our best option. We have enough funds to erect a metal structure and will have to work, save and teach new converts how to give in order to do the finish work. If you would like to have a part in helping us complete this building project, we would be very grateful.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Mission Sheets (dated December 2010):
We had to purchase more chairs for the increased number in attendance at our services. We will be pretty tight trying to fit them into the limited remaining space, but this type of "inconvenience" is very encouraging. There will be a bit of relief on the crowded meetings soon. We have found an available lot where we'll be building the facilities for our new church plant. The Lord has guided us step by step in the process of launching this new work, so we trust that He'll bless and give us much fruit there for the fame of His Name. Charlene and I sold our cars a little more than a year ago to give the funds so that our mother church could purchase property for more spacious facilities. For reasons that God alone knows, our church was not able to obtain that property, but now we will be able to use those funds to begin the contruction on our new church plant. My co-pastor will now become senior pastor of Bible Baptist Church and I will be pastor of the new mission.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Mission Sheets (dated September 2010):
The church Bobby co-pastors has outgrown its facilities and has been unable to obtain property or larger facilities during the last couple of years. Currently, they plan to start a new congregation by dividing the current church. Bobby and Charlene will lead the effort establishing the church plant while continuing to work hand in hand with the senior pastor of the sending church, currently Bobby's co-pastor. Pray that God will direct His people to the location most needing a new church and will provide for them there. July 18, 2010 - Bobby preached at Ahava Baptist this morning. Download or listen here. Don't miss this opportunity to hear him share God's Word. July 11, 2010 - Bobby, Charlene and Brennan will be returning to Brazil on July 21, 2010. Pray for traveling safety and God's blessing on their efforts. Jessie is reluctant to see them go. June 27, 2010 update - Savannah was able to make the fifteen hour flight from Brazil to Tampa (plus a ten hour layover in Buenos Aires) with her leg elevated, although it was necessary to purchase an entire row of seats to get it done. Bobby was at Ahava today with his family. June 23, 2010 - Bobby reports from Brazil, where he is dealing with the aftermath of a burglary at his home, that a young lady named Savannah visiting from Florida, has broken her leg. The prayer request is that she be allowed to travel home with her leg elevated rather than have surgery in Brazil. In the event she has to stay for surgery, Bobby would be delayed in returning to the States.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Mission Sheets (dated May 2010):
The Project Life ministry teams reached over 8,300 people during a week they shared with a team from Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida. Several churches were blessed with increased attendance following the meetings. The Wacasers have a couple of months left in the states and invite friends old and new to contact them. During a successful trip up north, Bobby got the news that the Wacaser home in Brazil had been burglarized. Bobby has returned home to Brazil for a short while to document the loss. He plans to rejoin his family in the States for a few more weeks before returning to the field.
Pray for safe travel.
Bobby Wacaser grew up at Ahava. He and Charlene are church planting specialists in Brazil where they have served since 1985.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Mission Sheets (dated April 2010):
Several pastors have contacted me to invite us to share our work with them and their churches while we will be in the States. We still have some open dates available, so if you also would like to know more about how God is working through us in southern Brazil, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Projeto Vita, our itinerant evangelism ministry, had the opportunity to be in many cities this past month.They also hosted ten missionary candidates from sister churches who were seeking training in outreach methodology. This ministry has been greatly blessed of the Lord to take the Gospel to groups and locations that are usually difficult to reach. They travel on buses that have been converted into motorhomes housing and transporting twelve team members and their equipment. We now have four teams and three buses. Our fourth team works locally in our own city while we pray and look for a fourth bus.
Bobby Wacaser
Baptist Faith Missions
Manoel Valdomiro de Macedo, 2281
81170-150 Curitiba, PR, Brazil
Phone: (813) 436-9980
Email: [email protected]
Mission Sheets (dated January 2011):
Announcing the New Baptist Church of Curitiba. The initial team is made up of three couples, one single young man and our thirteen year old son, Brennan. Last month, Charlene and our ladies prepared small gift-wrapped packages of homemade cookies and distributed them door-to-door announcing the beginning of the new church. We guys went to a sports complex and engaged the local 'fellers' in games of soccer and croquet. Since croquet is virtually unknown here, it served to draw a small crowd in a hurry. We interrupted our play long enough to announce the new church. We are content with our church meeting beneath a couple of beach gazebos for now. We want our team and new converts to think in terms of larger facilities for more people to come hear the Gospel, become followers of Christ and part of His church. Brother Carlos Chaves from Manaus and Bobby have been looking for the best prices on building materials and have decided that a metal building is our best option. We have enough funds to erect a metal structure and will have to work, save and teach new converts how to give in order to do the finish work. If you would like to have a part in helping us complete this building project, we would be very grateful.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Mission Sheets (dated December 2010):
We had to purchase more chairs for the increased number in attendance at our services. We will be pretty tight trying to fit them into the limited remaining space, but this type of "inconvenience" is very encouraging. There will be a bit of relief on the crowded meetings soon. We have found an available lot where we'll be building the facilities for our new church plant. The Lord has guided us step by step in the process of launching this new work, so we trust that He'll bless and give us much fruit there for the fame of His Name. Charlene and I sold our cars a little more than a year ago to give the funds so that our mother church could purchase property for more spacious facilities. For reasons that God alone knows, our church was not able to obtain that property, but now we will be able to use those funds to begin the contruction on our new church plant. My co-pastor will now become senior pastor of Bible Baptist Church and I will be pastor of the new mission.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Mission Sheets (dated September 2010):
The church Bobby co-pastors has outgrown its facilities and has been unable to obtain property or larger facilities during the last couple of years. Currently, they plan to start a new congregation by dividing the current church. Bobby and Charlene will lead the effort establishing the church plant while continuing to work hand in hand with the senior pastor of the sending church, currently Bobby's co-pastor. Pray that God will direct His people to the location most needing a new church and will provide for them there. July 18, 2010 - Bobby preached at Ahava Baptist this morning. Download or listen here. Don't miss this opportunity to hear him share God's Word. July 11, 2010 - Bobby, Charlene and Brennan will be returning to Brazil on July 21, 2010. Pray for traveling safety and God's blessing on their efforts. Jessie is reluctant to see them go. June 27, 2010 update - Savannah was able to make the fifteen hour flight from Brazil to Tampa (plus a ten hour layover in Buenos Aires) with her leg elevated, although it was necessary to purchase an entire row of seats to get it done. Bobby was at Ahava today with his family. June 23, 2010 - Bobby reports from Brazil, where he is dealing with the aftermath of a burglary at his home, that a young lady named Savannah visiting from Florida, has broken her leg. The prayer request is that she be allowed to travel home with her leg elevated rather than have surgery in Brazil. In the event she has to stay for surgery, Bobby would be delayed in returning to the States.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Mission Sheets (dated May 2010):
The Project Life ministry teams reached over 8,300 people during a week they shared with a team from Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon, Florida. Several churches were blessed with increased attendance following the meetings. The Wacasers have a couple of months left in the states and invite friends old and new to contact them. During a successful trip up north, Bobby got the news that the Wacaser home in Brazil had been burglarized. Bobby has returned home to Brazil for a short while to document the loss. He plans to rejoin his family in the States for a few more weeks before returning to the field.
Pray for safe travel.
Bobby Wacaser grew up at Ahava. He and Charlene are church planting specialists in Brazil where they have served since 1985.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Mission Sheets (dated April 2010):
Several pastors have contacted me to invite us to share our work with them and their churches while we will be in the States. We still have some open dates available, so if you also would like to know more about how God is working through us in southern Brazil, feel free to contact me at [email protected]. Projeto Vita, our itinerant evangelism ministry, had the opportunity to be in many cities this past month.They also hosted ten missionary candidates from sister churches who were seeking training in outreach methodology. This ministry has been greatly blessed of the Lord to take the Gospel to groups and locations that are usually difficult to reach. They travel on buses that have been converted into motorhomes housing and transporting twelve team members and their equipment. We now have four teams and three buses. Our fourth team works locally in our own city while we pray and look for a fourth bus.
Bobby Wacaser
Almond and Nalin Katryan
Almond & Nalin Katryan
Corriverton Baptist Church
99, Line Path "D" - P.O.Box 936
Corriverton, Guyana, South America
Phone: 011-592-339-2286
Email: [email protected]
Sent by:
Southside Baptist Church
P.O.Box 9128, Winter Haven, FL 33883
Phone: (863) 294-2659
"We the people..." will increase by two soon!
On June 16, 2010, Almond and Nalin Katryan are scheduled to become American citizens in a ceremony at the Royal Palms Immigration Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. Although the Katryans have been legal residents of the United States since 1993, they have spent most of their time on the field in their home country of Guyana. Obtaining permission to go back and forth between Guyana and the United States has become increasingly difficult for them. American citizenship will allow the Katryans to go where the Lord's work takes them in either country with fewer administrative hassles. According to former Ahava member, Brother Timothy Boyer Parrish (email) of Courtland, Virginia, who spent a month in Guyana recently, Almond & Nalin Katryan are very hard workers for The Lord. Almond is training and directing young missionaries to carry on and expand the work there. He has a vision of greater evangelism in street preaching in the marketplace. God is at work in Guyana and the Katryans are being greatly used. Their life is about the constraining Love of Christ and His Glory and the needs of the people there to be taught and growing in “Grace and Knowledge” of Christ. Tim and Brother Kenneth Long visited the Katryans in March, 2010 and conducted training on HVAC at the school.
Terry & Cynthia Spears
Terry & Cynthia Spears
Imus Baptist Temple
205 Palico IV
Imus, Cavite, Philippines 4103Phone: (713) 623-1934
Email: [email protected]
Sending church:
Grace Baptist Church, Tyler, TX
P.O.Box 8748
Old Jacksonville Highway
Tyler, TX 75711
Phone: (903) 561-7664
From April 2010 Newsletter:
At a Missions Conference in April, the Imus Baptist Temple commited as a church to support two more missionaries, bringing their total to seven. These missionaries are an expansion of your missions giving. Bible studies in General Santos, Mindanao are bearing fruit. Landlord Gerome and his wife Myra have been inviting many friends and relatives to the meetings. All seem receptive to the Gospel message. Another Bible study has been suspended because the Catholic lady hosting the meetings was afraid that what she was learning from God's Word would cause her to want to leave her church. The rest of her family would like to continue but will not out of deference to her. Cynthia keeps the door open by visiting the lady and talking to her about her soul. Pray for this situation. Terry and Cynthia have been serving in the Philippines since 1998. Cynthia is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines. Terry was raised in the Philippines by his missionary parents. After Bible School training in the states, Terry and Cynthia returned to fulfill their calling to carry the Gospel to the Filipino people. They have two sons, Chris (18) and Bryce (9). Chris is currently studying at Pensacola Christian College where he is pursuing a career in the medical field.
Imus Baptist Temple
205 Palico IV
Imus, Cavite, Philippines 4103Phone: (713) 623-1934
Email: [email protected]
Sending church:
Grace Baptist Church, Tyler, TX
P.O.Box 8748
Old Jacksonville Highway
Tyler, TX 75711
Phone: (903) 561-7664
From April 2010 Newsletter:
At a Missions Conference in April, the Imus Baptist Temple commited as a church to support two more missionaries, bringing their total to seven. These missionaries are an expansion of your missions giving. Bible studies in General Santos, Mindanao are bearing fruit. Landlord Gerome and his wife Myra have been inviting many friends and relatives to the meetings. All seem receptive to the Gospel message. Another Bible study has been suspended because the Catholic lady hosting the meetings was afraid that what she was learning from God's Word would cause her to want to leave her church. The rest of her family would like to continue but will not out of deference to her. Cynthia keeps the door open by visiting the lady and talking to her about her soul. Pray for this situation. Terry and Cynthia have been serving in the Philippines since 1998. Cynthia is a natural-born citizen of the Philippines. Terry was raised in the Philippines by his missionary parents. After Bible School training in the states, Terry and Cynthia returned to fulfill their calling to carry the Gospel to the Filipino people. They have two sons, Chris (18) and Bryce (9). Chris is currently studying at Pensacola Christian College where he is pursuing a career in the medical field.
Ken & Cathy Hedvall
Ken & Cathy Hedvall
Mision Nuevas Tribus
Casilla 522
Cochabamba, Bolivia
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ntm.org/Ken_Hedvall
Home phone: (407) 413-9298
New Tribes Mission
1000 E. First St.
Sanford, FL 32771
www.ntm.org
Note from Hedvall's on February 26, 2011...
Ken just had surgery and will need about 2 weeks to recuperate. He won’’t be traveling or going to his office, but working on emails and documents he’s got going. That’s nice for him but he’s in a lot of pain. Please pray that our insurance covers the bulk of all the costs. We appreciate you folks there so very much. Andy and Mindy were a big help to Cammy and the twins for a couple of weeks. Cammy seems to be able to talk to Andres regularly but doesn’t get to see him on Skype yet. Maybe eventually. Thank you for praying!
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Note from Hedvall's on November 1, 2010...
Heavy on our hearts these days is our son-in-law’s departure this week for Afghanistan. He and our daughter Cammy have twins that are a year old. So if you all would please be praying for the 7 month deployment that they face, we would really appreciate it. We love and appreciate you all there at Ahava so much.
Ken and Cathy
...................................................................................................................................................................................
From Hedvall Highlights, May 2010:
The road trip to Paraguay took the Hedvall's to a work with the Manjui people. The missionaries' sixteen year old daughter is teaching kids how to read so that they can read God's Word. In one of the meetings of a local church, an elder apologized to the congregation for speaking beyond what the Bible said and injecting too much of his own feelings and opinions. Would that all churches had such mature leadership. One of the older Manjui men told Cathy they she was there with them because they had prayed for God to heal the tumor in her eye. Newlyweds Andy and Mindy have been asked to supervise the mission guesthouse in Santa Cruz, Bolivia helping missionaries and guests. With children Andy, Chris & Callie, Ken and Cathy Hedvall work with the Latin America Coordinating Team for New Tribes Missions. Ken is happy to announce that Andy is now married to Mindy Burnham and has just finished his first year at Bible school. Andy and Mindy have been asked to come to Bolivia to fill a short term need taking care of the mission guest house in Santa Cruz, Bolivia for one year. They are scrambling to get visas and do whatever is necessary, knowing what an urgent need exists. Please pray with the Hedvalls about this matter. Pray especially for Mindy as she becomes acclimated to a new culture and language. Ken is convinced that she'll be surprised by how similar Bolivia is to the Philippines, where she grew up with her parents, New Tribes Missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham. Callie is working as a nanny for her sister in North Carolina. Chris will join the Air Force in July. So, the older Hedvalls are just weeks away from being "empty nesters."
Mision Nuevas Tribus
Casilla 522
Cochabamba, Bolivia
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ntm.org/Ken_Hedvall
Home phone: (407) 413-9298
New Tribes Mission
1000 E. First St.
Sanford, FL 32771
www.ntm.org
Note from Hedvall's on February 26, 2011...
Ken just had surgery and will need about 2 weeks to recuperate. He won’’t be traveling or going to his office, but working on emails and documents he’s got going. That’s nice for him but he’s in a lot of pain. Please pray that our insurance covers the bulk of all the costs. We appreciate you folks there so very much. Andy and Mindy were a big help to Cammy and the twins for a couple of weeks. Cammy seems to be able to talk to Andres regularly but doesn’t get to see him on Skype yet. Maybe eventually. Thank you for praying!
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Note from Hedvall's on November 1, 2010...
Heavy on our hearts these days is our son-in-law’s departure this week for Afghanistan. He and our daughter Cammy have twins that are a year old. So if you all would please be praying for the 7 month deployment that they face, we would really appreciate it. We love and appreciate you all there at Ahava so much.
Ken and Cathy
...................................................................................................................................................................................
From Hedvall Highlights, May 2010:
The road trip to Paraguay took the Hedvall's to a work with the Manjui people. The missionaries' sixteen year old daughter is teaching kids how to read so that they can read God's Word. In one of the meetings of a local church, an elder apologized to the congregation for speaking beyond what the Bible said and injecting too much of his own feelings and opinions. Would that all churches had such mature leadership. One of the older Manjui men told Cathy they she was there with them because they had prayed for God to heal the tumor in her eye. Newlyweds Andy and Mindy have been asked to supervise the mission guesthouse in Santa Cruz, Bolivia helping missionaries and guests. With children Andy, Chris & Callie, Ken and Cathy Hedvall work with the Latin America Coordinating Team for New Tribes Missions. Ken is happy to announce that Andy is now married to Mindy Burnham and has just finished his first year at Bible school. Andy and Mindy have been asked to come to Bolivia to fill a short term need taking care of the mission guest house in Santa Cruz, Bolivia for one year. They are scrambling to get visas and do whatever is necessary, knowing what an urgent need exists. Please pray with the Hedvalls about this matter. Pray especially for Mindy as she becomes acclimated to a new culture and language. Ken is convinced that she'll be surprised by how similar Bolivia is to the Philippines, where she grew up with her parents, New Tribes Missionaries Martin and Gracia Burnham. Callie is working as a nanny for her sister in North Carolina. Chris will join the Air Force in July. So, the older Hedvalls are just weeks away from being "empty nesters."
Andy & Mindy Hedvall
Andy & Mindy Hedvall
Santa Cruz, BoliviaNew Tribes Mission
1000 E. First St.
Sanford, FL 32771
www.ntm.org
Andy & Mindy have arrived and are working at the New Tribes guest house in Santa Cruz.
Mindy's blog (The Second String) tells their story.
Santa Cruz, BoliviaNew Tribes Mission
1000 E. First St.
Sanford, FL 32771
www.ntm.org
Andy & Mindy have arrived and are working at the New Tribes guest house in Santa Cruz.
Mindy's blog (The Second String) tells their story.
Barbara Keathley & Lilianna Hanley
Gospel Light Foundation for the Blind, Inc.
Barbara Keathley & Lilianna Hanley
3760 Village Main Street
Loganville, GA 30052Phone: (678) 475-7879
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.glfb.org
The mother/daughter team of Barbara Keathley and Lilianna Hanley carry on the ministry started many years ago before his homegoing by their husband/father Brother Bill Keathley.
From the Winter 2011 Newsletter:As you remember we mentioned our dire need of financial help in the last newsletter. The Lord has supplied this need through many of you. Several churches took up special offerings to help and others of you gave individually with an open heart. We appreciate your love and care.
Our finances are all caught up including both supplies and salaries. Many have sent cassette tapes: some new professional quality to use for our library to send to our students; and good doctrinal sermons to send overseas. Now we have many boxes of tapes and Braille to send overseas. These are so helpful to those who cannot obtain them in other countries. Someone even donated a tape duplicator. God is good!
We had a very encouraging call from Tom Dickhoner in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is 58 years old and became blind because of being born prematurely and receiving too much oxygen in the incubator, so of course, he does not remember ever seeing. We have worked with him for many years. We asked him if he would write down his testimony for us to share with you in this letter.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
My Testimony
by Tom Dickhoner
Gospel Light has been a blessing to me. Writing this is an answer to prayer, which we talked about over the phone, when it comes to doing the will of God. I want God to receive glory for what I have done. Only he gets the glory for all we do and say.Time and dates have left me as I have gotten older, but one thing is certain. There is no such thing as luck, being at the right place and at the right time or a happenstance as far as the Christian is concerned. Everything that happens to us is by the providence of God. It is a divine process of growing in grace. Back in the mid 1990's my pastor, with whom I graduated from high school, told me that he had learned of the Gospel Light Foundation for the Blind. Bill Keathley was the director of it.At the time, I contacted Gospel Light by phone. I also started receiving tapes from the Gospel Light library that Gospel Light has to offer to its blind for which it ministers. Before Bill Keathley went home to be with the Lord, I had the pleasure of corresponding with him by means of the cassette tape recorder. Without the use of computers as we have today, I received a special Gospel Light Library container for which I could record my message and return to Gospel Light. Bill would respond back to me and was kind enough to send me recorded tapes that he thought would be of help to me. Those tapes were just the thing I needed to help me advance in my walk with Christ. At the time Bill was a great encouragement to me as my wife, Teresa, and I had a younger daughter with special needs.It is now 2011. Words cannot explain how much Gospel Light has helped me as I want to draw closer to God.I just completed the home correspondence course “Right With God”. I am in the process of completing the home correspondence course, “Knowing and Serving God”. This particular course has been a real blessing to me as I have been learning about the Holy Spirit, and, I just completed lesson 13, “Knowing the Will of God”. Bill when he was living was a great encouragement to me. Barbara is doing an excellent job of not only sending the courses in Braille and computer to the students who want to learn and to grow in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, she also is quick to tell us our scores for each lesson.Another encouraging thing is that we don't have to wait for the results of the previous lesson before sending in the next lesson. We can send as many lessons as we please.With the computer and internet, there is the added benefit of sending and receiving responses to lessons quickly. No longer is there a problem of a Braille lesson reaching Gospel Light days or weeks after it was completed or mailed. Gone are the days of damaged Braille lessons due to rough handling of Braille materials by the postal services. Finally, Barbara is a helpful teacher. I can always call Gospel Light Foundation for the Blind, and I can get answers to questions.I look forward to starting the “Doctrines of Grace Course” as quickly as possible. This course is different from the other two courses. I look forward to studying the lessons and the essay questions will be a challenge. Still with time and hard work, I see no reason why I can't complete this course in reasonable time.We serve a great God. I look forward to the day when I can minister to others who are blind. I want to teach them that just because you can't use a computer, or if you are not a fluent reader of Braille, you are not a failure in God's gracious eyes. God can use you in a way that will give glory and all the honor to Him.I hope more correspondence courses will become available. The blind are no different from anyone else. Everyone must be saved the same way. If a door opens to me so that I can minister to the blind and physically handicapped in this way, I will be blessed even more. Keep up the excellent work! It is my prayer that your ministry will bless others as it has blessed me.Tom DickhonerTestimonies like this really bless our hearts to know that the Lord is fervently working in our ministry to the blind. We praise God for the ability to accomplish His work for His glory.
Your missionaries to the blind,
Barbara Keathley & Lilianna Hanley
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Special Appeal from the Gospel Light Foundation for the Blind on Facebook, dated November 5, 2010:"We again are in dire financial need. Our income is very low. Since August Lilianna has missed 2 checks and Barbara has missed 3, which amounts to $2100.
We have no money for supplies and we are needing:
We will have a larger family this year because of the marriage of Lilianna to Joshua Hanley, with his two sons. Jehovah God has blessed us wonderfully this past year. We hope and pray you know the Lord personally and can rejoice with us."
Barbara
Barbara Keathley & Lilianna Hanley
3760 Village Main Street
Loganville, GA 30052Phone: (678) 475-7879
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.glfb.org
The mother/daughter team of Barbara Keathley and Lilianna Hanley carry on the ministry started many years ago before his homegoing by their husband/father Brother Bill Keathley.
From the Winter 2011 Newsletter:As you remember we mentioned our dire need of financial help in the last newsletter. The Lord has supplied this need through many of you. Several churches took up special offerings to help and others of you gave individually with an open heart. We appreciate your love and care.
Our finances are all caught up including both supplies and salaries. Many have sent cassette tapes: some new professional quality to use for our library to send to our students; and good doctrinal sermons to send overseas. Now we have many boxes of tapes and Braille to send overseas. These are so helpful to those who cannot obtain them in other countries. Someone even donated a tape duplicator. God is good!
We had a very encouraging call from Tom Dickhoner in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is 58 years old and became blind because of being born prematurely and receiving too much oxygen in the incubator, so of course, he does not remember ever seeing. We have worked with him for many years. We asked him if he would write down his testimony for us to share with you in this letter.
...................................................................................................................................................................................
My Testimony
by Tom Dickhoner
Gospel Light has been a blessing to me. Writing this is an answer to prayer, which we talked about over the phone, when it comes to doing the will of God. I want God to receive glory for what I have done. Only he gets the glory for all we do and say.Time and dates have left me as I have gotten older, but one thing is certain. There is no such thing as luck, being at the right place and at the right time or a happenstance as far as the Christian is concerned. Everything that happens to us is by the providence of God. It is a divine process of growing in grace. Back in the mid 1990's my pastor, with whom I graduated from high school, told me that he had learned of the Gospel Light Foundation for the Blind. Bill Keathley was the director of it.At the time, I contacted Gospel Light by phone. I also started receiving tapes from the Gospel Light library that Gospel Light has to offer to its blind for which it ministers. Before Bill Keathley went home to be with the Lord, I had the pleasure of corresponding with him by means of the cassette tape recorder. Without the use of computers as we have today, I received a special Gospel Light Library container for which I could record my message and return to Gospel Light. Bill would respond back to me and was kind enough to send me recorded tapes that he thought would be of help to me. Those tapes were just the thing I needed to help me advance in my walk with Christ. At the time Bill was a great encouragement to me as my wife, Teresa, and I had a younger daughter with special needs.It is now 2011. Words cannot explain how much Gospel Light has helped me as I want to draw closer to God.I just completed the home correspondence course “Right With God”. I am in the process of completing the home correspondence course, “Knowing and Serving God”. This particular course has been a real blessing to me as I have been learning about the Holy Spirit, and, I just completed lesson 13, “Knowing the Will of God”. Bill when he was living was a great encouragement to me. Barbara is doing an excellent job of not only sending the courses in Braille and computer to the students who want to learn and to grow in our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, she also is quick to tell us our scores for each lesson.Another encouraging thing is that we don't have to wait for the results of the previous lesson before sending in the next lesson. We can send as many lessons as we please.With the computer and internet, there is the added benefit of sending and receiving responses to lessons quickly. No longer is there a problem of a Braille lesson reaching Gospel Light days or weeks after it was completed or mailed. Gone are the days of damaged Braille lessons due to rough handling of Braille materials by the postal services. Finally, Barbara is a helpful teacher. I can always call Gospel Light Foundation for the Blind, and I can get answers to questions.I look forward to starting the “Doctrines of Grace Course” as quickly as possible. This course is different from the other two courses. I look forward to studying the lessons and the essay questions will be a challenge. Still with time and hard work, I see no reason why I can't complete this course in reasonable time.We serve a great God. I look forward to the day when I can minister to others who are blind. I want to teach them that just because you can't use a computer, or if you are not a fluent reader of Braille, you are not a failure in God's gracious eyes. God can use you in a way that will give glory and all the honor to Him.I hope more correspondence courses will become available. The blind are no different from anyone else. Everyone must be saved the same way. If a door opens to me so that I can minister to the blind and physically handicapped in this way, I will be blessed even more. Keep up the excellent work! It is my prayer that your ministry will bless others as it has blessed me.Tom DickhonerTestimonies like this really bless our hearts to know that the Lord is fervently working in our ministry to the blind. We praise God for the ability to accomplish His work for His glory.
Your missionaries to the blind,
Barbara Keathley & Lilianna Hanley
...................................................................................................................................................................................
Special Appeal from the Gospel Light Foundation for the Blind on Facebook, dated November 5, 2010:"We again are in dire financial need. Our income is very low. Since August Lilianna has missed 2 checks and Barbara has missed 3, which amounts to $2100.
We have no money for supplies and we are needing:
- 1 box of 100 C-30 Professional Master cassette tapes for $52.
- 1 box of 100 C-60 Professional Master cassette tapes for $63.
- 2 boxes of 1000 sheets each of Braille paper at $45 each for Braille letters and correspondence courses.
- 1 box of large envelopes for mailing the Braille for $30.
- 1 box of 3 black ink cartridges for printer for $45.
- 1 set of travel speakers to be used with the PowerPoint presentation for $34. (The old speakers only work part of the time and have to be held.)
- 1 new scanner that we purchased, we still owe $115.
- Postage for the newsletter, we owe $265.
We will have a larger family this year because of the marriage of Lilianna to Joshua Hanley, with his two sons. Jehovah God has blessed us wonderfully this past year. We hope and pray you know the Lord personally and can rejoice with us."
Barbara